Seminoles look to rebound in homecoming game against Duke

BRENT KALLESTADAssociated Press

Published Saturday, November 06, 2004

TALLAHASSEE -- Once again, Florida State's future is in the inconsistent hands of Chris Rix.

Faced with the possibility of not winning the Atlantic Coast Conference title for just the second time in 13 years, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden is reinstating Rix as his starting quarterback for Saturday's homecoming game against Duke.

The Seminoles (6-2, 4-2 ACC) must win their last two ACC games and hope for a lot of help for any chance at a share of the league title.

"We've been beat before and we've always come back," Bowden said. "All you can do is go over it and correct your mistakes. You sure don't want to linger on it or you'll get yourself another loss."

Bowden, who turns 75 on Monday, hasn't given up.

"It's too early to fold the season," Bowden said. "There's still too much to gain."

Duke (1-7, 0-5) is catching Florida State after a tumultuous week for the Seminoles, who tumbled from 5th to 13th in this week's national rankings after being upset 20-17 at Maryland.

The Terrapins beat Florida State for the first time in 15 tries. Bowden said it was another indication that playing in ACC stadiums has become tougher than ever for visiting teams.

"It ain't a library up there anymore," Bowden said. "It's wild up there in those stands."

Sexton, who completed better than 58 percent of his passes, seven for touchdowns, during his brief tenure as the Seminole starter, learned about his demotion watching television Monday.

He wasn't happy about it and that suits Bowden just fine.

"That's what you want, you want an attitude," Bowden said. "His future's ahead of him."

The 23-year-old Rix has a 26-11 record in starting assignments under Bowden, but he has been benched three times in four years for erratic play or off-field problems.

He's 0-5 against archrival Miami, but perfect in three starts against Duke.

Bowden believes the more experienced and elusive Rix gives the Seminoles their best chance of winning out against Duke and North Carolina State in the ACC and Florida in their traditional season-ending rivalry game.

"Chris gives you the potential for explosion and we haven't had that," he said. "We really haven't had any explosive plays this year like we have in the past."

Duke coach Ted Roof expects the Blue Devils to have their hands full whether Rix or Sexton is on the field, saying both are good players.

"It'll give us a good barometer of where we are and how far we have to go to get where we'd all like to get some day," Roof said. "I just want our guys to go play, let it go, play loose and play aggressive and see what happens."

He'll be relying heavily on his own quarterback, Mike Schneider, who threw for a career-high 300 yards and two scores against Wake Forest.

"He's a real student of the game," Roof said. "For us to have a chance to win, our quarterback has to play well."